EMBODI: Deltas empowering black males

Members of the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. are mentoring minority males through its Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence (EMBODI) program in Maryland, USA.

Chair-lady Sharon Roper Jackson says her group is committed to community outreach, professional accomplishment, and academic success. "This is our third year for stimulating minds, creating relationships, and fostering academic excellence with the core of 15 males who actively participated in our monthly three-hour program events," Jackson stated.

Other participating Montgomery County organizations include the public schools system, Omega Psi Phi-MUNU,  E.G.O.S. and "Take Flight, Inc." (male mentoring non-profits), the State Attorney General's Office, Unity Christian Foundation, Inc., GapBusters Learning Center, Inc., The Finest (teen performance troupe), Voices vs. Violence, Giant Foods, LLC, and the police department.

"We are very proud of our EMBODI young men, parents, and non-profits that supported this year's participants," Jackson said.

EMBODI is a national Delta program designed to refocus attention and service on the plight of African-American males. According to their national website, "Both informal and empirical data suggests that the vast majority of African-American males continues to be in crisis and is not reaching its fullest potential educationally, socially and emotionally."

To learn more about this organization's efforts in Montgomery County, contact Ms. Jackson at srjackson00@comcast.net.